The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) last week announced $1.05 million in grant awards to accelerate entrepreneurial activity and resources statewide through its new Community Collaboration Fund. This investment will help power 32 community-led projects focused on entrepreneurial education, connection and acceleration across Indiana, with a particular focus on underrepresented founders and underserved markets.
SPARK a project by the Jackson County Chamber received a $40,000 award. The Chamber will run a series of micro projects in the Jackson County to expand the SPARK program initially funded by the CCF pilot. These projects include a corporate-entrepreneur pitch competition, a middle school entrepreneurship program and an expansion of the TIME program into Jackson County in partnership with the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Indiana already ranks number two in the nation for starting a business, and these unique and collaborative projects are set to propel our entrepreneurial ecosystem to even greater heights,” said Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg. “Through the Community Collaboration Fund, we’re accelerating 32 new projects aimed at filling critical gaps and providing more direct support and resources for our entrepreneurs and small businesses at every stage of their journey, ensuring that all Hoosiers have the tools needed to innovate, grow and succeed.”
CCF, launched in October 2023, is designed to foster Indiana’s already strong entrepreneurial ecosystem. The program provides matching grants to support new community collaborations, services and programming that will benefit Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem with a focus on education, connection and acceleration. After an initial pilot of the program, the IEDC received more than 80 applications for its 2024 CCF grants. From the submissions, 32 projects were chosen based on their ability to fill gaps across the entrepreneurial ecosystem, support non-traditional markets and collaborate across boundaries.